According to Tribune Online, the allegation of fraud involving the Ministry of Humanitarian and Social Inclusion is still unresolved, as investigators from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have discovered a new crime involving N17 billion connected to the ministry
Sunday Tribune investigations confirmed on Saturday in Abuja that the EFCC officials were shocked to discover some previously unreported cases totaling N17 billion. The EFCC officials were initially working on the alleged N585 million fraud, which resulted in the suspension of Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Betta Edu.
It was discovered that the investigators are getting closer to the purported scam and have questioned the suspended minister about the latest discoveries.
According to the source, “The commission was surprised to uncover some previously unreported cases of fraud linked to the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs. The amount for now stands at N17billion. You will recall that what was reportedly linked to the suspended minister was N585 million, now the figure has risen and the investigators are closing in on the matter.”
Tribune Online also stated that the source went on to say that investigations are still ongoing into the cases of Hajia Sadiya Umar-Farouk, a former minister in the ministry under President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, and Hajia Halima Shehu, the suspended CEO of the National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA).
It was discovered that N30 billion of the N37 billion linked to Umar-Farouk had been found, and that Shehu had been providing excellent cooperation to the investigators.
Shehu just took preventive measures to stop some elements from syphoning off the monies, a source claimed Shehu told the investigators.
This is a development that follows determined efforts by certain parties to obstruct the probe by advocating for the accused to be granted an easy landing.
However, an informed source claimed that President Bola Tinubu had given his inner caucus assurances that he would not obstruct the EFCC’s investigation into the situation and that the possibility of clemency, or what one source referred to as a “second chance,” might not come to pass.